Posts by Separatrix
The expensive way is to get a harness lifejacket. The cheap way is to fit a crotch strap to a lifejacket (type 2 pfd), this is a standard part and I believe most lifejackets have fittings for one....
You're a bit more cramped than a topper but it seems to be much the same game. It's very much about the type of paddle you're using and the position you want to be in. We used praddles in the Topp...
The best bet on a job like this is to stick a tape measure across it and see what you've got. While technically a "one design" hull a modern sunfish is a long way from a classic one and a wooden hu...
Let's start with some basics Weight Efficiency Noise Then you get to the more complex requirements Stability of power output and response speed to load change Cleanliness of power wave Thes...
The trouble with hardening is usually insufficient hardener in the mix, though it's possible you've got a high temperature or very slow drying gelcoat. Getting a perfect finish requires either vac...
Since I don't have much exposure to Sunfish specifically, I'm going to give a generic answer for boats of this type. Unlikely unless they're borrowing parts from someone else. You've got a freest...
Try a sheep shank to create a loop, then run round the peg and tie off. This gives you an easily tensioned and tied off pulley system. You could also use a truckers hitch in much the same way, but...
You're going to be sitting in a certain amount of puddle regardless. A spray skirt/deck on a sit in kayak will reduce the effect but even that has its limits. Only wearing a full dry suit or dry t...
Are you surfing Are you competing Do you have a car with roofracks or a van The key to the development of the inflatable boards was to make the experience more accessible. Red Paddle Co who (as ...
There's one more old scout knot that applies in this case, the pole hitch. A bit of an obscure one as it's very limited in application, the sole purpose of this hitch is to gather horizontal poles...
The load limit for directly mounted roof bars is around 60kg - 70kg for ordinary (European) cars. Usually the load limit for rail mounted bars is lower, but that's for vertical and dynamic load. Th...
Go big or go home Look for boat ranges with an "HV" (high volume) or large option. The most important factor to you is going to be how well the boat holds your weight and how well it handles unde...
Sometimes known as paddle mitts, pogies are your friends here, you can choose to wear gloves in them as well or not, depending on how cold it's got, but most importantly they allow you full contact...
This style of welding is the standard method of repair for holes and splits in plastic hulled kayaks, though I've seen much neater jobs. Some manufacturers leave extra material around the cockpit s...
Lash them together in parallel with spars such that there's a wide enough gap down the middle that you can paddle in the centre. As you say, you're not going to be making tight turns, but you are ...
This very much depends on what sort of voyage it is. Learning the skills required to handle the boat would be a classic. Specifically learning navigation and standing watch. We used to spend a lo...
tl:dr; The difference between "a canoe" and "a kayak" is the seat. For competition purposes the difference between canoeing and kayaking is how you propel the boat. This appears to be the factor...
Conditions in which you can handle the boat depend on the style of boat and the paddler The range of what defines a "covered cockpit kayak" includes play boats from under 2 meters to over 5 meter...
It's mostly a lost skill (in the UK) for forward propulsion, though I have seen older fishermen use it for moving small dinghies around. I've played around with it a little myself and it's fairly e...
Charge controllers are your friend here. A good charge controller will monitor the circuit such that the battery gets the appropriate charging current at all times. This allows you to set up all ...
Yes, but you might want to use a short paddle. While the difference between a canoe and a kayak in practice is only the seat, and people do swap out kayak seats for canoe saddles in playboats, you...
The ship to windward is "ahead" Nothing is entirely linear in this game, but the key is that the further off the wind you're sailing, the faster you can go (this is not true of modern racers), up ...
The text implies differences in the ships. Once settled on the new tack the Loire’s natural advantages asserted themselves once more. She showed her extra speed and extra weatherliness; Hots...
For a total beginner? Not a lot. A beginner is better off in the warm and dry with consistent safe holds, solid top rope fixings, and close to the pub for the end of the session. There are basic p...
For an experienced paddler: These kayaks can be a delight to paddle on flat water. They're light, fast, and maneuver beautifully. For an inexperienced paddler: It'll be a nightmare. It has a K...
